The provision of international protection, and the application of international human rights and humanitarian principles on which it is based, are being increasingly challenged by political, social and economic realities. Core elements of refugee status, and the rights and responsibilities therein, are being questioned. More and more, asylum seekers are portrayed not as refugees fleeing persecution and entitled to sanctuary, but rather as illegal migrants, potential terrorists and criminals – or at a minimum as 'bogus'. Increasingly, asylum policies are being driven by security concerns and the need for enhanced migration management. Consequently, asylum policy has become alienated from refugee policy.

A key facet of globalization is the increasing mobility of the world's population. In response, control of migration has become an important aspect of national policy and international cooperation. This has led to a tendency to criminalize migrants, including asylum seekers, by associating them with people smugglers and traffickers. International legal instruments and institutions originally established to assist refugees are increasingly being used to stem unwanted migration. While it remains the prerogative of states to control their borders, they remain obliged to provide basic safety and assistance to those deemed in need of international protection. Therefore, the imperative should not be to prevent movement, but rather to balance effectively the security concerns and political interests of states and the aspirations for economic betterment of migrants in a manner that protects the interests of both.

In this context, strengthening protection remains a primary objective for the international community. To achieve this, more support should be provided to enhance protection capacity. This should include ensuring procedures are in place to provide access to appropriate, fair and efficient assessments of protection needs and to provide durable solutions thereafter. In turn, this necessitates more investment in national asylum systems and enhanced multilateral cooperation so that burdens and responsibilities are shared equitably.

Enhancing protection capacities

Box 2.1 Towards a common European asylum system